Medications to Treat Mast Cell Diseases
ALL PATIENTS:
Self-Injectable Epinephrine (two doses; e.g., EpiPen®/EpiPen Jr®) should be carried by all patients with a mast cell disorder at all times, even if previous anaphylaxis has not occurred. Both the patient and family members/caregivers should be trained on administering the epinephrine!
To see a video on how to inject the EpiPen®, click here (NOTE: scroll down the page to the video).
Please visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) website for more information on anaphylaxis.
Basic Medications for Symptomatic Patients with Mast Cell Diseases1-4
- H1 antihistamines: help with itching, abdominal pain, flushing, headaches, brain fog
- H2 antihistamines: help with gastrointestinal symptoms and overall mast cell stability (all mast cell activation symptoms)
- Mast cell stabilizers: help with stomach and intestinal symptoms and brain fog
- Leukotriene inhibitors: help with respiratory symptoms and overall mast cell stability (all mast cell activation symptoms)
- Aspirin therapy (under direct supervision of a physician): if tolerated and if prostaglandins are elevated, helps with flushing, brain fog and bone pain
Note: The H1 and H2 antihistamines are necessary to stabilize receptors on the mast cell. Therefore, if additional medication is required for control of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), a proton pump inhibitor may be added to this protocol, but it cannot replace the H2 antihistamine.
Please see Tables 1-6 for lists of some specific drugs in these different categories.
Please see Table 7 for a list of some specific drugs for advanced systemic mastocytosis.
Table 1. Some First Generation H1 Antihistamines
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Atarax® | Hydroxyzine hydrochloride |
| Benadryl® | Diphenhydramine |
| Chlortrimeton® | Chlorpheniramine |
| Doxepin®, Sinequan® | Doxepin hydrochloride |
| Tavist® | Clemastine |
Table 2. Some Second Generation H1 Antihistamines (may tend to cause less drowsiness)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Allegra® | Fexofenadine |
| Claritin® | Loratidine |
| Clarinex® | Desloratidine |
| Zaditor®/Zaditen® (in Europe)* | Ketotifen |
| Xyzal® | Levocetirizine |
| Zyrtec® | Cetirizine |
*Zaditor® is only available in the US as eye drops; Zaditen® is available by prescription, but it must be obtained from a compounding pharmacy or from abroad.
Table 3. Some H2 Antihistamines
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Axid® | Nizatidine |
| Pepcid® | Famotidine |
| Tagament® | Cimetidine |
| Zantac® | Ranitidine |
Table 4. Some Leukotriene Inhibitors
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Singulair® | Montelukast |
| Accolate® | Zafirlukast |
| Zyflo®/Zyflo CR® | Zileuton |
Table 5. Mast Cell Stabilizers
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Gastrocrom® | Oral cromolyn sodium |
| Zaditor®/Zaditen® (in Europe)* | Ketotifen |
| Algonot, Neuroprotect, etc. | Food supplements containing bioflavonoids such as quercetin and luteolin |
| Bayer aspirin; Aspirin; ASA | Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid (for those with high prostaglandin levels; aspirin therapy must be initiated under the direct supervision of a physician!) |
* Zaditor® is only available in the US as eye drops; Zaditen® is available by prescription, but it must be obtained from a compounding pharmacy or from abroad.
Table 6. Proton Pump Inhibitors to Help with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Aciphex® | Rabeprazole |
| Dexilant® | Dexlansoprazole |
| Nexium® | Esomeprazole |
| Prevacid® | Lansoprazole |
| Prilosec® | Omeprazole |
| Protonix® | Pantoprazole |
Table 7. Some Chemotherapy Drugs for Selected Patients with Smoldering and Advanced Variants of Systemic Mastocytosis1, 5
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
| Gleevec® | Imatinib |
| Masivet® | Masitinib |
| Sprycel® | Dasatinib |
| Tasigna® | Nilotinib |
| Rydapt® (Midostaurin) | PKC 412 |
| Hydrea® | Hydroxyurea |
| Leustatin®, Leustat®, Litak® | Cladribine, 2-CDA |
| Intron® | Interferon Alfa-2b |
There are several more therapies in the pipeline, including additional tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies.
Sometimes symptoms change, and it becomes necessary to increase or decrease doses of medications, or to add additional medications to a patient’s prescribed protocol. The simplest change made in conjunction with your mast cell specialist can make such a difference in your symptoms! Although it is tempting to change dosing regimens on your own, please always work with your physician to achieve the safest, most effective outcome!
References
- Pardanani A. Systemic mastocytosis in adults: 2015 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2015 Mar;90(3):250-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25688753
- Theoharides TC, Valent P, Akin C. Mast Cells, Mastocytosis, and Related Disorders. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 9;373(2):163-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26154789
- Akin C. Mast cell activation disorders. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014 May-Jun;2(3):252-7 e1; quiz 8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24811013
- Picard M, Giavina-Bianchi P, Mezzano V, Castells M. Expanding spectrum of mast cell activation disorders: monoclonal and idiopathic mast cell activation syndromes. Clin Ther. 2013 May;35(5):548-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23642289
- Ustun C, DeRemer DL, Akin C. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of systemic mastocytosis. Leuk Res. 2011 Sep;35(9):1143-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21641642
